Schiffli embroidery machine



Aug. 21, 1962 o us 3,050,020

SCHIFFLI EMBROIDERY MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1960 INVENTOR. flvcodore50/105 United States Patent Ofiice aesaeze Patented Aug. 21, 19623,050,020 SCHIFFLI EMBROIDERY MACHINE Theodore Bohus, 7024 Durham Ave.,North Bergen, NJ. Filed Feb. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 6,892 5 Claims. (Cl.112-95) The present invention relates to an embroidery machine,particularly to a multiple-needle embroidery machine, of the typegenerally used for the production of Schiffii embroidery, and is acontinuation-in-part of the invention described and claimed in myco-pending application Serial No. 797,951, filed March 9, 1959.

Embroidery machines of the type to which the present invention relatesare provided with as many as 680, or even more needles, which arearranged in one or more horizontal rows and are selectively operated bya common mechanism which is generally controlled by a perforatedpattern. Each of the needles in such a machine is provided with anassociated shuttle. Such shuttles are each slidably disposed in a box,"to the other side of the fabric to be embroidered from the needle sidethereof. Each box is formed with sliding surface along which the shuttlemoves and which is parallel to the path of the reciprocating needles andis disposed in a generally upright direction at an acute angle to thevertical. The shuttle, reciprocating up and down along the slide surfaceof the box, passes through and around the loop of thread set up by theneedle at its innermost position, to form an embroidery stitch.

In embroidery machines of the type referred to above, a large number ofthe shuttle boxes are supported in closely spaced, parallel relation ona horizontally disposed bar, and the shuttles are each reciprocated inits box by a pin that engages against its relatively thick underside,which pin is removably secured, as are the pins of companion shuttles,on a common reciprocating bar that is disposed above the box supportingbar and parallel thereto and which is driven or reciprocated in agenerally vertical direction but slightly diagonal thereto,substantially parallel to the shuttle supporting faces of the boxes, insynchronized relation to the needle reciprocation, by one or moredriving shafts operated from the driving mechanism of the machine.

Since the driving pins of the apparatus described above do notpositively engage the shuttle bottoms, but only abut them, they arepositively effective only for moving the shuttles in the upwarddirection. As gravity and the weight of the shuttles themselves are notalways sufficient for effecting their downward or return movement, ortheir return at an adequate rate of speed, means has been provided insuch embroidery apparatus of the prior art for mechanically positivelyeffecting the return of the shuttle to initial position. Such meansincludes a second bar connected in parallel to the pin supporting bar onwhich is resiliently mounted, opposite each shuttle, a finger thatextends over the top of the shuttle to engage it for downward movementas the pin supporting bar returns to its down position. Both, theshuttle lifting pins and the shuttle return fingers are removably andadjustably supported in place.

foregoing difiicu'lties by providing positive means for effecting thereturn or downward movement of the shuttle by providing shuttle-movingpins of permanent magnetic character which have been found effective tolower the shuttles back to full initial position, without any delays.However, I have found that the invention of my said co-pendingapplication, while highly effective, is not the complete and finalanswerto the solution of the problems pointed out above. For one thing,such permanent magnetic pins are high-priced and costly and, inaddition, are relatively brittle and require replacement more often thatdesired. Further, such permanent magnetic shuttle-moving pins possessmagnetic power that may occasionally prove excessive, especially whereshuttles and shuttle boxes are too closely associated so that, onoccasion, the shuttle pin of one shuttle may magnetically affect anadjacent shuttle, to tilt it away from its sliding surface, and therebybring about a missed stitch.

It is the object of the present invention to provide Schiftli embroiderymachines or the like, of the character described, likewise havingmagnetic shuttle return means; but in which the foregoing shortcomingare completely overcome and which, While highly effective to bring aboutthe complete and undelayed lowering of the shuttles to initial position,will not exert any appreciable or disturbing magnetic effect on adjacentshuttles.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide magneticshuttle-returning means for Schiffli embroidery machines, or the like,which are of less brittle characteristics and which may be required inlesser numbers than the shuttle pins, to thereby reduce their initialcost as Well as their replacement cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide magneticshuttle-returning means which are at least as easy and simple to installas the magnetic shuttle pins of my said co-pending application.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embroiderymachines of the present invention will become more readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in theaccompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to beunderstood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way ofillustration only, to make the principles and practice of the inventionmore readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting theinvention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the shuttle side of anembroidery machine of the general type to which the present inventionrelates, partly broken away and in section to show structural details,with the shuttles shown in their lowermost position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational and partly sectional view of the embroiderymachine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a box and shuttle assemblyof the machine of FIG. 1, as viewed from the needle side, and shown withthe needle plate removed and with the shuttle in its uppermost position;and

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Generally stated, the present invention resides in the utilization on aSchiffii embroidery machine of the character described, of shuttle pinsthat are of magnetic material and which are magnetized by theutilization of a pin-retaining plate which is of permanent magneticcharacteristic and which induces magnetic properties upon such shuttlepins by direct contact with them. 1 have found that the magnetisminduced in shuttle pins of a ferrous material by such a retaining plateis fully ample to effect complete and undelayed lowering of the shuttlecontrolled by such pin, and, at the same time, is wholly insufficient toexert any effect on adjacent shuttles.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the sameshow a fragment of a Schifili embroidery machine of generally standardconstruction. This machine includes a fixed horizontally disposed bar,10, on which are supported, in generally conventional manner, in closelyspaced parallel relation, a plurality, as many as 170, of shuttle boxesof generally conventional construction, each generally designated as 12.Each of the boxes 12 comprises a foot, 14, by which it is secured to thebar 10, and a post, 16, which extends slantingiy upwardly at an acuteangle to the vertical in the direction of the longitudinal axis of thebar 10. Each post 16 is formed with a smooth upwardly facing side, 18,slanting in the same direction and at the same angle, on which isslidably supported for vertically slanting reciprocating a steelshuttle, 119, of generally conventional shape. Each post 16 is formedwith a flange, 26, along the outer edge of the face 18 and has securedto its inner face, closest to the needle side of the machine, a needleplate, 22, in which is formed a needle opening, 24, in alinement with aneedle-receiving groove, 26, provided in the shuttle-supporting face 13of the post 16. Through this opening 24 and groove 26 reciprocates theneedle 28 that passes through the fabric, 29, disposed between the rowof needles 28 and the row of boxes 12.

The illustrated embroidery machine is provided with a shingleshuttle-moving bar, 30, disposed substantially parallel to and slightlyabove the box-supporting bar to. The bar 30 is reciprocable along anaxis parallel to the shuttle-supporting faces 18 of the boxes 12, bymeans of a driving rod, 32, which is secured thereto and is guided inthe diagonal bearing, 34, secured to the edge of theshuttlebox-snpporting bar the rod 32 being actuated from the drivingmechanism of the machine in the conventional manner. The shuttle-movingbar is provided in the conventional manner with a plurality oftransversely-extending grooves, 36, on its bottom surface, preferably ofan arcuate cross-section, and each disposed opposite one of the shuttles19 of the machine.

Each of the grooves 36 is disposed opposite a shuttle \19 and serves asa positioning and retaining means for a shuttle-moving pin, generallydesignated as 38. Each of the pins 38 i preferably made of a ferrous orother magnetic material, as iron or steel. It is formed with a stemportion, 40, that is disposed in a groove 36, and with ashuttle-contacting portion, 42, that extends from the stem to underliethe oppositely disposed shuttle 19; the latter pin portion 42 beingpreferably of reduced thickness and being joined to stem portion by atapering shoulder. The stem portion 40 of each pin 38 is preferably ofgenerally cylindrical shape and is provided with a flattened side, 44,that preferably terminate short of the tapered shoulders connecting itWith its extension 42.

Each of the pins 38 is held in place by a retaining plate, 48, which isof permanent magnetic material. Preferably, each plate 48 is of a sizeto retain a contiguous pair of pins 38 and is formed with one or morecentral openings, 50, through each of which a headed screw, 52, passesfor engagement in an appropriate tapped opening formed in the undersideof the bar 30 between pairs of adjacent grooves 36. Each pin 38 has itsarcuate surface portion held in a groove 36 and its flattened surfaceportion 44 disposed against the upper surface of the magnetic retainingplate 48.

It will be apparent that each of the pins 38 supported by the magneticretaining plate 48 will be magnetized by the contact of its flattenedface 44 with the magnetic plate 48. It will also be apparent thatmagnetic lines of force from the pin stem 40 of the pin will beconcentrated in the thinner forward portion 42 thereof, and causemagnetic attraction between the latter and the shuttle 19 restingthereon.

Where the bar 30 is made of magnetic material, such as iron, in any ofits forms, a non-magnetic spacer or washer plate, 54, as of aluminum,may be interposed between the underside of the bar 30 and each pair ofpins 38 that are supported by a common retaining plate 48; such spacerplate 54 having spaced parallel corrugations, S6 corresponding in shapeand spacing to a pair of grooves 36 on the underside of the bar 30,whose crests fit in such grooves and Whose troughs fit over the curvedsurface portion of the pins 38 secured between it and the magnetic plate54. It will be readily understood that where the bar 30 is formed of anon-magnetic material, such as aluminum, the spacing plates 54 may bedispensed with, unless required for the adjustment of the verticalposition of the pins 38.

The operation of the mechanism thus described will be readily apparent.It will be conventional for the upward movement of the shuttles 19'. Thereturn movement of the shuttles 19 will be partly effected, in additionto gravitational force, by magnetic force exerted on the shuttle by itsassociated lifting pin 38 that is magnetized by its supporting plate 44.Such magnetic force has been found to be ample to ensure uninterruptedand complete return of the shuttle to its initial lower posit-ion, butnot sufficient to extend beyond the effective area of operation of eachpin to exert any magnetic effects upon adjacent shuttles, or otherwiseadversely affect the operation of the machine.

This completes the description of the improved Schiffii embroideryapparatus of the present invention and the manner of its operation. Itwill be readily apparent that such apparatus, by providing the specificpositive means for the return of the shuttle, as described above,eliminates the difficulties of shuttle movement encountered in theoperation of such apparatus as heretofore made, at the same timesimplifying the construction of the apparatus and its cost ofproduction, as more clearly pointed out in my co-pending application,and also makes possible the conversion of existing apparatus to providethe same with the advantages of the present invention, at relativelyreduced cost of such conversion. It will also be apparent that theapparatus of the present invention, with respect to its shuttle-movingmechanism, may also be maintained at relatively lesser cost, in bothlabor and materials.

It will further be apparent that numerous modifications and variations[in the improved Schifili embroidery machine of the present inventionmay be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention hereinabove set forth, and without theexercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to beprotected for any and all such modifications and variations that may bemade within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of theclaims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. In an embroidery machine, including at least one needle, meansreciprocating said needle along its longitudinal axis in a horizontalplane, a steel shuttle associated with said needle, and means, includinga surface inclined to the vertical and facing parallel to the directionof reciprocation of said needle for slidably supporting said shuttle inoperative relation to said needle, means reciprocating said shuttle onsaid surface, including a bar, means reciprocating SBlld bar in a planeparallel to said surface, a magnetizable pin having one end portionthereof engaging against a bottom portion of said shuttle, and a plateof permanent magnetic material removably engaged on said bar contactingthe other end portion of said pin and securing the same against saidbar.

2. In an embroidery machine, including at least one needle, meansreciprocating said needle along its longitudinal axis in a horizontalplane, a steel shuttle associated with said needle, and means, includinga surface inclined to the vertical and facing parallel to the directionof reciprocation of said needle for slidably supporting said shuttle inoperative relation to said needle, means reciprocating said shuttle onsaid surface, including a bar, means reciprocating said bar in a planeparallel to said surface, a magnetizable pin having one end portionthereof engaging against a bottom portion of said shuttle, and a plateof permanent magnetic material removably engaged on said bar contactingthe other end portion of said pin and securing same against said bar,said first end portion of said pin being of reduced cross-sectionrelative to said other end portion thereof.

3. In an embroidery machine, including at least one needle, meansreciprocating said needle along its longitudinal axis in a horizontalplane, a steel shuttle associated with said needle, and means, includinga surface inclined to the vertical and facing parallel to the directionof reciprocation of said needle for slidably supporting said shuttle inoperative relation to said needle, means reciprocating said shuttle onsaid surface, including a bar, means reciprocating said bar in a planeparallel to said surface, a magnetizable pin having one end portionthereof engaging against a bottom portion of said shuttle, and a platecontacting the other end portion of said pin and securing the sameagainst said bar, said pin being of cylindrical shape end having aflattened surface portion on said other end portion, said platecontacting said flattened surface portion.

4. In an embroidery machine, including at least one needle, meansreciprocating said needle along its longitudinal axis in a horizontalplane, a steel shuttle associated with said needle, and means, includinga surface inclined to the vertical and facing parallel to the directionof reciprocation of said needle for slidably supporting said shuttle inoperative relation to said needle, means reciprocating said shuttle onsaid surface, including a bar, means reciprocating said bar in a planeparallel to said surface,

a magnetizable pin having one end portion thereof engaging against abottom portion of said shuttle, and a plate of permanent magneticmaterial removably engaged on said bar contacting the other end portionof said pin and securing the same against said bar, said pin being ofcylindrical shape with said first end portion thereof of reducedcross-section relative to said other end portion, said other end portionhaving a flattened surface portion, said plate contacting said flattenedsurface portion.

5. In an embroidery machine, including at least one needle, meansreciprocating said needle along its longitudinal axis in a horizontalplane, a steel shuttle associated with said needle, and means, includinga surface inclined to the vertical and facing parallel to the directionof reciprocation of said needle for slidably supporting said shuttle inoperative relation to said needle, means reciprocating said shuttle onsaid surface, including a bar, means reciprocating said bar in a planeparallel to said surface, a magnetizable pin having one end portionthereof engaging against a bottom portion of said shuttle, and a plateof permanent magnetic material removably engaged on said bar contactingthe other end portion of said pin and securing the same against saidbar, said bar being of magnetizable material and a non-magneticinsulating element interposed between said bar and said pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,084,904 Schoenfeld Jan. 20, 1914 2,690,724 Eisenbeiss Oct. 5, 1954FOREIGN PATENTS M18,467 Germany May 3, 1956

